Top Rankings
Kadoka Area School District 35-2 ranks among the top 20% of public school district in South Dakota for:
Category
Attribute
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public middle schools serving 94 students in Kadoka Area School District 35-2. This district's average middle testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public middle schools in South Dakota.
Public Middle Schools in Kadoka Area School District 35-2 have an average math proficiency score of 52% (versus the South Dakota public middle school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority American Indian), which is more than the South Dakota public middle school average of 42% (majority American Indian).
Overview
This School District
This State (SD)
# Schools
6 Schools
294 Schools
# Students
283 Students
39,775 Students
# Teachers
32 Teachers
2,945 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
9:1
9:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Kadoka Area School District 35-2, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 146 school districts in South Dakota (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 60-79% has decreased from 80% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#31 out of 148 school districts
(Top 30%)
(Top 30%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
56%
42%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
55-59%
51%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
40-44%
42%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)60-79%
82%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)10.7%
22.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.52
0.60
% American Indian
41%
26%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
1%
7%
% Black
n/a
3%
% White
56%
58%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
2%
5%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $22,989 is higher than the state median of $13,053. The school district revenue/student has grown by 39% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $19,855 is higher than the state median of $12,557. The school district spending/student has grown by 32% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$7 MM
$1,916 MM
Spending
$6 MM
$1,844 MM
Revenue / Student
$22,989
$13,053
Spending / Student
$19,855
$12,557
Best Kadoka Area School District 35-2 Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Kadoka Middle School - 03
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
800 Bayberry St
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2174
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2174
Gr: 6-8 | 51 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #22.
Midland Elementary - 11
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
104 Main St
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2171
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2171
Gr: K-8 | 6 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1
Rank: #33.
Interior Elementary - 09
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
301 A St
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2173
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2173
Gr: K-8 | 15 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #44.
Longvalley Elementary - 10
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
26840 Sd Hwy 73
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2173
Kadoka, SD 57543
(605) 837-2173
Gr: K-8 | 22 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Recent Articles
Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well
Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.
Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate
Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.
Student Data, AI Tools, and Privacy: Questions to Ask Your District
Learn how public schools use AI, protect student data, and the key privacy questions every parent should ask their school district in 2026.
